The Free lance., February 01, 1898, Image 5

1898.]
began to be felt. Realizing fully the dangers of shackling the
press, he wrote his wonderful Areopagitica, generally conceded
to be his best prose work, which is a powerful plea for freedom of
opinion. In 1645 was published the first collection of his poems,
and in 1649 he became Cromwell's Latin Secretary. The political
disputes in which his new position involved him called forth a
dozen pamphlets, and precipitated, in 1652, his total blindness.
This year also he married again, his first wife having died; but
his second wife lived only two years, leaving the poet more deso
late than before.
In 1660, with the restoration of the Stuarts, came the downfall
of his political party and of his hopes. For some time he was
obliged to live a fugitive existence, but soon protective measures
enabled him to live in peace and to accomplish his destiny. The
fact that so powerful a foe to the Stuarts as Milton should be in
cluded in the general pardon issued seems to corroborate Milton's
notion of the purpose of divinity in his creation.
The life of Milton naturally divides into three periods. First,
his boyhood, his college days, and his years spent at Horton and
in Italy. Second, the twenty years, roughly speaking, from his
return to England to the Restoration. These were the twenty
best years of his life, and volumes have been written in discuss
ing whether his course was justifiable. Did he wrong himself
and all humanity by devoting his wonderful intellect to political
wrangle and controversy? What might he not have written dur
ing that time if he had followed his muse ? On the other hand,
would it have been possible for him to compose his grand epic in
all its perfection with a lesser knowledge of humanity and with
narrower views of the universe in. general than he acquired during
those years of political strife ? If the answer to the latter question
be negative, is it not far better that lie deprive the world of
volumes of excellent, yes, grand verse which he might have given
it and substitute therefor one Paradise Lost ? The third and last
period begins with the Restoration.
From his earliest recollection Milton was conscious of an inner
sense of duty to man. and to his God, of a divine purpose in his
creation. During all his early life he had felt it; during his score
of years in politics the thought was ever present; and, though he
met with the keenest sorrow the ruin of his beloved hope of liberty
The Puritan Poet